Very good and different from the norm

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Good voice and diction and very pacy thriller with lots of atmosphere created.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Excellent ending. Brings you full circle and is loaded with lyrical beauty after breathtaking action.

Have you listened to any of Ian Patrick’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No. Has he done others? He certainly should. This was good quality.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Oh yes. Definitely. There's an old couple - in fact three old people - who visit the captain to make a donation to support the police. So beautiful. Then there's a funeral scene which is so touching. The lyricism of the writing in both these scenes - balanced by realism and lovely touches of humor - is outstanding.

Any additional comments?

I read that other people think the narrator should include more than one male voice - have actresses to play the female voices. I think that's right, although it didn't strike me at the time. Another thing: this is really good sound quality, too. I thought that the story itself was really interesting, but that it meandered a little in the scene where they were tracking the telephones. Then it came together again in an exciting clash in the final chapter.

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7 people found this helpful

Great story, powerful narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Gun Dealing to be better than the print version?

No

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gun Dealing?

The dinner party was great. Lots of fun and lots of action

Which character – as performed by Ian Patrick – was your favourite?

The narrator, really. Nice voice. But also Ryder. He obviously knows the guy inside out.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The opening scene is pretty rough and horrific. Terrible violence described in a matter-of-fact way to show the context. Then the follow-up from that after a couple of days with the grandmother and the parents was hard to take. Good. But very sad. Heart-breaking, really.

Any additional comments?

Lots of characters. Maybe two narrators should have taken them on and shared them.

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3 people found this helpful

Lovely, although I preferred the book

What did you like about this audiobook?

The story is wonderful. The tension is unbearable at times and keeps one captivated. I thought there were too many women characters for the male voice, although his voice is really nice to listen to, distinct and clear and intriguing. Like a couple of other reviewers, I think this is brilliant stuff but could be done with a male narrator as well as a femal one, so that they could share out the characters (male and female).

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

I think everyone interested in crime escalating out of control should listen to this. really interesting themes about law and justice and retribution.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

He bangs no drums, but you can see he is sensitive to all the important issues: race, gender, sexism, macho men being put down, etc. He doesn't allow any of those things to get in the way of a rip-roaring story, though, and this is really a good read.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

Like I said, I think he doesn't crack the women characters as well as he does the men.

Do you have any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next one in this series.

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4 people found this helpful

Captivating evil

If you could sum up Gun Dealing in three words, what would they be?

Heart-stopping action

What other book might you compare Gun Dealing to, and why?

The Bourne Identity

What does Ian Patrick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Clear, articulate, dark characters that draw you in. The men characters are the best. Evil and scary.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but only because I was travelling. I would prefer to take two or three days. Nice detail that keeps one rivetted.

Any additional comments?

Good studio production. Sound is great. I read the fourth book in the series because the dust cover spoke volumes to me because of personal experience, so I hadn't got to the earlier books. I decided to do this one as audio. It's not quite as good as number four, but excellent all the same.

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7 people found this helpful

Guns and mayhem beautifully orchestrated

Would you consider the audio edition of Gun Dealing to be better than the print version?

Both are sublime, I think. The text is well plotted with great characters and the audio is professionally done.

What other book might you compare Gun Dealing to, and why?

The Jason Bourne trilogy, because one identifies with the main characters and follows them into rip-roaring action

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The dinner party scene and the ensuing action are quite delicious.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, although I couldn't because of family reasons. It was gripping and entertaining.

Any additional comments?

This is different from the norm. Clear and accessible voice and diction, with good characterisation, making a lovely narrative. It has a beautiful structure, too, from lyricism to high drama to lyricism. Very thought-provoking.

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2 people found this helpful

Better than the first book

What made the experience of listening to Gun Dealing the most enjoyable?

I liked the narration very much. The accents were good and the speech was clear and distinct. There were some really scary moments, and I enjoyed the banter between spouses, colleagues, and even criminals (however vile the latter were)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gun Dealing?

When the old couple, with their mother, come to see the Captain and try and give him money for a bursary. That was so sad. Beautifully done.

What about Ian Patrick’s performance did you like?

Straight, direct, no-nonsense narration, with nice hints at characters without trying to do the full radio drama stuff.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

As above, the visit of the old couple to the Captain.

Any additional comments?

The dinner party in the suburbs was a gem. Very funny and then very exciting, too.

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5 people found this helpful

A long time coming but very exciting

It's more than a year since I read the prequel to this book. Well, not so much a prequel as simply the first in a series of four books. I loved this. It was very different and the villain is just as bad as you can get them. The narrator played the roles well, and the nasty hombre is a match for the hero detective. A clash of titans, this is.

The forensic detail was good, too. I liked the whole thing about the weapons and how to trace them. It was entertaining as well as thrilling. I'll get more of this author.

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2 people found this helpful

Exciting thriller; women's voices needed

Where does Gun Dealing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Excellent, I have to say. Thrilling and exciting and some lovely characters, especially the women.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gun Dealing?

The dinner party scene was brilliant. Everyone's nightmare: having a lovely sociable dinner at home and then... something happens. Wild. Wonderful.

Have you listened to any of Ian Patrick’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No I haven't. But this was good.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very sad bits in it. Very, very sad. Then uplifting. So I was OK with it.

Any additional comments?

I wouldn't want to be too critical - the performance is lovely, with a nice husky voice doing the narration. But I think it would have been nice to have a woman doing the women's voices. Two narrators? I don't know if they do that, normally, but it would be good.

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3 people found this helpful

Better than the first book

I read the first in this series and was a bit harsh on it in reviewing it. Then I listened to this one. Wow. Blew my mind. I revise my view of the first one - it's much better than the three stars I gave it in my paper review - but this one is a knockout thriller. Bad guys like you can't imagine. Well written, well narrated, and scary. I love this guy Jeremy Ryder. And his wife. Both of them working together are a killer outfit. Robbers beware. A good cop thriller well written and well narrated on audio.

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1 person found this helpful

Exciting and authentic

This has the feel of real-world politics and social interaction, while being an exciting thriller. Believable and authentic, with lots of research leading to a compelling police procedural and crime thriller. The accents are accurately portrayed and the character types are a true reflection of life on the ground.

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3 people found this helpful